Senior judges of the Delhi High Court flagged the growing threat of digital extortion and fake “digital arrest” scams, warning that cybercriminals often stay ahead of law enforcement. The discussion highlighted Supreme Court intervention, I4C coordination, and the urgent need to strengthen digital evidence and cyber investigations.
New Delhi: A high-level legal discussion on the growing menace of digital extortion and cyber fraud was held in New Delhi by the Justice for Rights Foundation, bringing together senior judges, law officers, police officials and members of the legal fraternity.
The event focused on how law and justice must evolve to respond to fast-changing digital crimes that now affect people across all sections of society.
The gathering included the Honourable Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay, Honourable Justice Pratibha Maninda Singh, Additional Solicitor General Mr. Chetan Sharma, Senior Advocate and President of the Delhi High Court Bar Association Mr. Hariharan, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Uttar Pradesh Mr. Pawan Kumar, Chairman of BRICS-CCI Mr. Harvansh Chawla, Senior Advocate and Vice President of the Delhi High Court Bar Association Mr. Sachin Puri, and other senior advocates and lawyers.
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The organisers highlighted that digital extortion is no longer a distant or rare crime. A single click today can destroy privacy, dignity and financial security. Such crimes operate silently, feed on fear and shame, and therefore demand clarity, speed and technical understanding from the justice system.
Justice for Rights Foundation, established in April 2018 by Advocate Satyam Singh Rajput and Advocate Sanjeev Singh, works under the patronage of late Justice V. K. Shukla, former Acting Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, and Justice Pramod Kohli, former Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court and former Chairman of the Central Administrative Tribunal.
The Foundation focuses on bridging the gap between law and society through legal awareness, access to justice and constitutional advocacy.
Its work includes support to families of paramilitary martyrs, education for underprivileged communities, healthcare initiatives, environmental protection and public interest litigation. The organisation has secured landmark judgments from High Courts and the Supreme Court, strengthening its role as a credible voice for social justice.
After the ceremonial lighting of the lamp, the Honourable Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyay, addressed the gathering and shared personal memories of late Justice V. K. Shukla.
He recalled Justice Shukla’s popularity at the Bar and narrated how members of the Allahabad High Court Bar applauded continuously during his oath-taking ceremony despite formal protocol.
Justice Upadhyay spoke about the seriousness of digital extortion, observing that criminals often stay ahead of law enforcement. He noted that such crimes affect everyone, from daily wage workers to large business owners, and are not limited to big cities.
He stressed that judges, lawyers, prosecutors and investigators must improve their understanding of technology and digital evidence, which is often complex and difficult to establish.
He also raised concerns about certain provisions of the Information Technology Act that were borrowed from foreign laws and later repealed abroad, suggesting that Indian evidence law may need changes to deal with new forms of digital crime.
He concluded by appreciating the Foundation for organising a timely discussion and paid tribute to Justice V. K. Shukla.
The programme also witnessed the formal unveiling of the book Dear the People, authored by Mr. Pawan Kumar, DIG Uttar Pradesh Police. The book was described as a work based on real policing experience and a tribute to Justice Shukla, whose guidance shaped the author’s professional journey.
Honourable Justice Pratibha M. Singh then addressed the gathering, congratulating Mr. Pawan Kumar and speaking on the theme of technology and law. She compared the race between law and technology to the tortoise and the hare, stating that while technology moves fast, law ultimately catches up.
Justice Singh shared a real case experience involving a habeas corpus petition of a missing 19-year-old boy, where investigators struggled to obtain information from social media platforms. This led the court to involve the Ministry of Home Affairs and push for coordination through the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre (I4C).
She explained the concept of “digital arrest”, where fraudsters impersonate agencies like police, CBI, ED, RBI or narcotics authorities, profile victims in advance, and intimidate them into transferring money or sharing bank details. Senior citizens are often targeted through fear of arrest, money laundering or foreign transactions.
Justice Singh referred to recent Supreme Court action classifying such frauds as digital arrest scams, investment scams and part-time job scams. She noted misuse of well-known trademarks and the cross-border nature of many such crimes.
The Supreme Court has directed pan-India CBI investigations, freezing of accounts by the RBI, cooperation from IT intermediaries, involvement of Interpol, and strict monitoring of telecom fraud and fake SIM cards.
She highlighted the I4C’s “Sahyog” portal, which allows law enforcement agencies to coordinate with online intermediaries to block content, freeze accounts, preserve data and investigate cybercrime efficiently. Most major platforms are on the portal, though some have chosen to challenge it legally.
Justice Singh also warned about risks of artificial intelligence in legal proceedings, particularly AI hallucination, where systems generate fake cases or incorrect legal data, posing serious challenges for courts if left unchecked.
The event concluded with a strong message that digital extortion is a serious and evolving threat, and tackling it requires coordinated efforts by courts, police, policymakers and technology platforms, while safeguarding constitutional values, privacy and due process.
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